Twined Mittens (Finished)

  • Skill level: Intermediate/AdvancedTvaandsstickning_mittens
  • Dates: Saturdays, 9 -30 Jan, 10:30am-12:30pm (4 sessions, 8 hours total)
  • Instructor: Mairi McKissock
  • Cost: $85 + HST + materials

Tvåändsstickning, also known as two-end knitting, or twined knitting, is a Swedish folk knitting technique that uses two ends of a single ball of yarn, twisting each strand around the other after every stitch. It makes a particularly dense, almost windproof, fabric, that is ideal for mittens, hats, socks, and outerwear.  Highly decorative tvåändsstickning work features distinctive textured patterns made by bringing one strand to the front of the work for a variety of special stitches, and coloured patterns that can be worked by twining two different colours of yarn, by carrying a third strand of yarn for colour stitches, or by working a form of intarsia for small motifs.

This classes teaches all of the essential tvåändsstickning techniques, and all you need to know to knit a pair of well-shaped, well-fitting mittens.

Techniques covered

You will learn:

  • how to wind and manage your yarn to avoid tangles and unwind accumulated twist
  • a little bit about the theory of twist, and what yarns work best for tvåändsstickning
  • a basic three-strand cast-on technique for tvåändsstickning
  • basic twining technique (right- or left-handed)
  • how to work with two colours
  • how to work simple colour patterns
  • how to work simple textured patterns (‘hook’ stitches and chain paths)
  • how to read tvåändsstickning pattern charts
  • increase and decrease techniques for tvåändsstickning
  • mitten architecture
  • how to customize mittens for a perfect fit
Skill prerequisites

This class is intended for intermediate or advanced knitters. You should:

  • be able to knit in the round, using double-pointed needles, 2 circulars, or one long circular for magic loop
  • be able to identify mistakes and problems in your knitting (such as accidental yarn-overs, dropped or incorrectly mounted stitches)
  • be familiar with increase and decrease stitches (left-leaning and right-leaning increases)

Familiarity with the related technique of stranded colourwork (carrying two colours in one row) is helpful, but not required.

Although this technique can be done with the yarns held in either hand, knitters who hold the yarn in the left hand (Continental, or ‘picking’, style) generally find this technique more challenging than those who hold the yarn in the right hand (English, or ‘throw’ style).

Materials

Please bring the following with you to class:

  • two 100g skeins of worsted weight wool yarn in contrasting colours
  • 3mm needles for circular knitting (dpns, two circulars, or one long circular, according to preference), or size required to achieve the correct gauge. Gauge is highly individual, and will be different for tvåändsstickning than for regular knitting. Please bring a variety of needle sizes (whatever you have between 2.5 and 3.75mm) to the first class.
  • stitch markers, small (2-2.75mm) crochet hook, darning needle
Homework

There is no homework required to prepare for the first class. A moderate amount of homework will be assigned each week to prepare you for the next week’s instruction.

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